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Powerful Partnerships:How Local Systems Can Work Together to Create Educational Stability for Kids
Presented at: “Child Welfare, Education and the Courts: A Collaboration to Strengthen Educational Successes of Children and Youth in Foster Care”
November 4, 2011
Workshop Learning Objectives:Participants will learn strategies to:
Our Panel Anne Comstock (Moderator), Associate Director, National
Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement
The Honorable Suzanna Cuneo, Commissioner, Pima County Juvenile Court
Carol Punske, Assistant Program Manager, Pima County Juvenile Court Child Protective Services
Elaine E. Fink, Managing Attorney, Children’s Advocacy Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio
Carla Guenthner, Administrative Magistrate, Hamilton County Juvenile Court
Pima County Juvenile Court Committee Pima County Juvenile Court Committee to Improve Education Outcomes to Improve Education Outcomes
for Court-Involved Youthfor Court-Involved Youth
• Established January 2003 as Established January 2003 as Model Dependency Court SubcommitteeModel Dependency Court Subcommittee
• Began with 12 members representing Child Began with 12 members representing Child Protective Services, several school districts, Protective Services, several school districts, Casey Family Programs, Juvenile Court Staff, Casey Family Programs, Juvenile Court Staff, CASA Program and the Attorney General’s Office. CASA Program and the Attorney General’s Office.
Pima County Juvenile Court Committee to Pima County Juvenile Court Committee to Improve Education Outcomes Improve Education Outcomes
for Court-Involved Youthfor Court-Involved Youth
• Initial focus was education issues affecting youth Initial focus was education issues affecting youth in foster care primarily in the areas of education in foster care primarily in the areas of education records, enrollment and school stability.records, enrollment and school stability.
• Committee expanded its focus in 2005 to include Committee expanded its focus in 2005 to include all court-involved youth, including delinquencies.all court-involved youth, including delinquencies.
Pima County Juvenile Court Committee to Pima County Juvenile Court Committee to Improve Education Outcomes Improve Education Outcomes
for Court-Involved Youthfor Court-Involved Youth
• Currently has approximately 100 participants Currently has approximately 100 participants representing numerous school districts, Pima representing numerous school districts, Pima Community Superintendent’s Office, Pima Community Superintendent’s Office, Pima Community College, County Attorney’s Office, Community College, County Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, group care facilities, Public Defender’s Office, group care facilities, attorneys, Child Protective Services, CASA, attorneys, Child Protective Services, CASA, Attorney General’s Office, Probation and Attorney General’s Office, Probation and Detention.Detention.
Pima County Juvenile Court Committee to Pima County Juvenile Court Committee to Improve Education Outcomes Improve Education Outcomes
for Court-Involved Youthfor Court-Involved Youth
• Following a community-wide education summit Following a community-wide education summit in October 2007, the committee converted its in October 2007, the committee converted its format to an education forum which meets 3-4 format to an education forum which meets 3-4 times per year and focuses on cross training times per year and focuses on cross training and collaboration in two areas: Keeping kids in and collaboration in two areas: Keeping kids in school and alternatives to school and alternatives to suspension/expulsion/arrest.suspension/expulsion/arrest.
Past Projects Addressing School Past Projects Addressing School Stability and ContinuityStability and Continuity
• School records: Created court order for release of School records: Created court order for release of school records to child welfare case managers. school records to child welfare case managers. Order signed by dependency judge same day Order signed by dependency judge same day dependency petition is filed.dependency petition is filed.
• Linking with McKinney-Vento: Ensure school-aged Linking with McKinney-Vento: Ensure school-aged children placed out of home remain in their home children placed out of home remain in their home schools when appropriate.schools when appropriate.
Past Projects Addressing School Past Projects Addressing School Stability and ContinuityStability and Continuity
• Training community educators focusing on McKinney-Training community educators focusing on McKinney-Vento liaisons and unique educational issues affecting Vento liaisons and unique educational issues affecting children in out-of-home care (Endless Dreams).children in out-of-home care (Endless Dreams).
• Training child welfare case managers on the rights of Training child welfare case managers on the rights of children in out-of-home care to remain in their home children in out-of-home care to remain in their home schools or to immediate enrollment if there is a change in schools or to immediate enrollment if there is a change in school placement (McKinney-Vento).school placement (McKinney-Vento).
• Development of an Education Advocacy Manual.Development of an Education Advocacy Manual.
Past Projects Addressing School Past Projects Addressing School Stability and ContinuityStability and Continuity
• ““Accountability Conferencing” as alternative to suspension Accountability Conferencing” as alternative to suspension and expulsion.and expulsion.
• Training on modified version of “Judicial Checklist” in Training on modified version of “Judicial Checklist” in dependency cases commencing with first Preliminary dependency cases commencing with first Preliminary Protective Hearing.Protective Hearing.
• Training out-of-home placement units to locate emergency Training out-of-home placement units to locate emergency placements for children within their home school district or placements for children within their home school district or as close geographically to that district whenever possible at as close geographically to that district whenever possible at the time of the child’s removal.the time of the child’s removal.
Past Projects Addressing Past Projects Addressing School Stability and ContinuitySchool Stability and Continuity
• Development of the position of Juvenile Court Development of the position of Juvenile Court Education Programs Coordinator within the Education Programs Coordinator within the Juvenile Court to assist both Child Protective Juvenile Court to assist both Child Protective Services case managers and Probation Officers on Services case managers and Probation Officers on education issues primarily in the area of education issues primarily in the area of enrollment and school records.enrollment and school records.
Child Protective Services Working Child Protective Services Working Collaboratively with the SchoolCollaboratively with the School
• Develop relationshipsDevelop relationships• Recognize the expertise of each Recognize the expertise of each
system partnersystem partner• Meet regularlyMeet regularly• CPS staff meet quarterly with the CPS staff meet quarterly with the
School District Homeless Liaisons and School District Homeless Liaisons and periodically conduct trainings periodically conduct trainings together.together.
Key Partners for CollaborationKey Partners for Collaboration
School staff,School staff,teachers, teachers, principals,principals,social workers,social workers,nurses, etc.nurses, etc.CPS case workersCPS case workersFoster parentsFoster parentsRelative caregiversRelative caregivers
Attorneys, Attorneys, guardians ad litem, guardians ad litem, CASAs, surrogate CASAs, surrogate parents,parents,juvenile judges and juvenile judges and court personnel, court personnel, post secondary post secondary educators and educators and administratorsadministrators
Talk About Education from Day OneTalk About Education from Day OneTeam Decision MakingTeam Decision Making
• Team Decision Making is a strength based Team Decision Making is a strength based process addressing the safety and placement of process addressing the safety and placement of children.children.
• Meetings include:Meetings include:a)a) Family, CPS staff, family support, Family, CPS staff, family support,
community members, partnering agencies community members, partnering agencies and, as applicable, tribal representativesand, as applicable, tribal representatives
b)b) If children/youth are attending school, a If children/youth are attending school, a teacher, counselor or school teacher, counselor or school representative may be invited to the representative may be invited to the meeting.meeting.
Talk About Education from Day OneTalk About Education from Day OneTeam Decision Making MeetingsTeam Decision Making Meetings
Emergency removal orEmergency removal or Considered removalConsidered removal• A report is given to participants at the A report is given to participants at the
conclusion of TDM meeting and includes the conclusion of TDM meeting and includes the name of the school that the child attends.name of the school that the child attends.
• Report identifies if the child is receiving Report identifies if the child is receiving exceptional education services.exceptional education services.
• CPS can work to keep the child in same CPS can work to keep the child in same school and identify special needs.school and identify special needs.
Critical Issues: Provide SchoolCritical Issues: Provide SchoolPlacement StabilityPlacement Stability
Allow youth placed Allow youth placed in out-of-home in out-of-home care to attend care to attend home school when home school when it is safe to do so it is safe to do so and in the child’s and in the child’s best interest.best interest.
Critical IssuesCritical Issues
Records and School EnrollmentRecords and School Enrollment Ensure youth in out of home care are Ensure youth in out of home care are
not denied school enrollment because not denied school enrollment because their records are not immediately their records are not immediately available (including immunization records available (including immunization records and birth certificates)and birth certificates)
Ensure that records and information Ensure that records and information are promptly obtained/exchanged are promptly obtained/exchanged between CPS and the schools, whether between CPS and the schools, whether case is still under investigation or child is case is still under investigation or child is already receiving CPS servicesalready receiving CPS services
ChallengesChallenges
• Challenges faced by Challenges faced by foster when foster when changing schoolschanging schools
• All youth face All youth face challenges in challenges in adjusting to different adjusting to different curricula, teacher, curricula, teacher, peers, and peers, and expectations, yet…expectations, yet…
Foster Youth ChallengesFoster Youth Challenges
• Missed school days due to enrollment delays Missed school days due to enrollment delays because of lack of information/records (some because of lack of information/records (some students may initially be denied enrollment)students may initially be denied enrollment)
• Missed school days due to appointments for Missed school days due to appointments for social or medical services or even courtsocial or medical services or even court
• Lack of consistent advocacy for education Lack of consistent advocacy for education needs, including special educationneeds, including special education
• Simultaneously dealing with significant Simultaneously dealing with significant personal and familial issuespersonal and familial issues
SuccessesSuccesses
• Agree that children removed form their homes Agree that children removed form their homes will generally qualify under the McKinney-will generally qualify under the McKinney-Vento Act for the remainder of that school yearVento Act for the remainder of that school year
• Agree that the Homeless Liaison will consider Agree that the Homeless Liaison will consider children to be eligible for transportation if children to be eligible for transportation if there is a planned placement move during the there is a planned placement move during the current school yearcurrent school year
• Exploring how Title 4-E funds can be used to Exploring how Title 4-E funds can be used to provide transportation for children after the provide transportation for children after the first year following removal, with a focus on first year following removal, with a focus on older youtholder youth
SuccessesSuccesses• School Districts are providing school supplies School Districts are providing school supplies
for the children/youth who are living in for the children/youth who are living in shelters and group homesshelters and group homes
• CPS staff are trained and periodically reminded CPS staff are trained and periodically reminded to contact the School District Homeless Liaison to contact the School District Homeless Liaison as soon as a dependency petition is filed, even as soon as a dependency petition is filed, even if transportation is not immediately neededif transportation is not immediately needed
• Developed a collaborative relationship with the Developed a collaborative relationship with the School District Homeless Liaison and the staff School District Homeless Liaison and the staff at the state Department of Education for at the state Department of Education for problem solving and educationproblem solving and education
Education = future
Their future is in our hands.
It is imperative that CPS continues to work collaboratively
with schools and the court system to promote the
educational well-being of all the youth in our care.
ResourcesResources
• Casey Family ProgramsCasey Family Programs
• National Council of Juvenile and Family Court JudgesNational Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
• Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency PreventionOffice of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
ContactsContacts
Judge Suzanna CuneoJudge Suzanna Cuneo Pima County Juvenile Court CommissionerPima County Juvenile Court Commissioner [email protected]@pcjcc.pima.gov
CPS: Carol PunskeCPS: Carol PunskeAssistant Program ManagerAssistant Program [email protected]@azdes.gov
Court: Cathleen FitzgeraldCourt: Cathleen FitzgeraldEducation Programs CoordinatorEducation Programs [email protected]@pcjcc.pima.gov
Questions and Comments?
IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL
OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS IN FOSTER CARE
Elaine E. FinkCarla Guenthner
Hamilton County Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati Public Schools
57 schools High Schools: 16
Elementary Schools: 38
Combined: 3
Race African American: 68.8%
Caucasian: 23.7%
Multi-racial: 4.6%
Hispanic: 1.9%
Free lunch: 68.7%
Cincinnati Public Schools Special Education Work Group
A grassroots and multi-disciplinary community group
Works collaboratively to address systemic gaps and barriers
Focus is on students with special needs
A sub-committee was created to examine and improve foster care outcomes
Key Stakeholders
Hamilton Co. Dept. of Job & Family
Services
Cincinnati Public Schools
Hamilton Co. Juvenile Court
Legal Aid Society of SW Ohio
Public Defender: GAL Office
ProKids: CASA Agency
Traveling Road Show
A Multi-Disciplinary Team
delivers information
about the child welfare system
to teachers and administrators
through participation in staff
meetings at individual schools
Two Way Process is Required
SCHOOLSCHILD
WELFARE
Why did Cincinnati Public Schools Participate?
Involved from the beginning School district input and
feedback was valued All parties remained flexible Had little to lose Willing to take a risk
Role for the Project Champion
Understands both systems Demonstrates fairness Defends each system to the other Holds each system accountable Identifies problems without
blaming Suggests solutions
Building a CollaborationStaged Process for Creating Systemic Change
Establish a sense of urgency
Develop and communicate a vision for change
Create a guiding coalition
Agree upon shared priorities and strategies
Generate short term wins
Consolidate gains and work toward long term
goals and outcomes
Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good
Hamilton County Child Protection Report Card
Children in Care or Under Agency Supervision: 1732
Placements: 60% experience one or more placements
Grade Level: 32% at appropriate grade level
Mental/Behavioral Health: 48% diagnosed
Target Population
Kindergarten through 12th grade Children in agency custody Children attending one of the
22 participating schools (identified through mapping)
Minimum of 100 children in the pilot
Prioritize Education
Steering Committee Execution of a MOU Inclusion of Schools/Education
Representatives on Model Court Team
Cross-Training Judicial Checklist Court Reports on Education Youth Engagement
Improve Communication and Systems Coordination
Immediate School Enrollment 2 child protection caseworkers
serve as Education Specialists to the participating schools
One representative at each school serves as the School Liaison to Children’s Services
Access to Power School: a web-based parent communication tool
Create School Stability Development of strategies for
maintaining stability in school and substitute care placements (e.g. prioritization within UM/UR; trauma informed services)
Creation of plans for maintaining school stability if agency placement disrupts (e.g. Project Connect-McKinney Vento liaisons)
Development of seamless transition plans when change in school placement cannot be avoided
Reform Policies and Practices
Create visitation plans/policies that avoid school disruption
Implement case plan services during non-traditional hours or access school-based services to minimize school disruption
Enhance Supportive Services
Education Advocacy and Legal Representation
Interventions and Supports to Promote Academic Success and Achievement Tutoring Mentoring Higher Education Mentoring Initiative Extracurricular Activities Summer Reading Program
Collect Data and Measure Program Outcomes
Key Outcome Measures:
1. Youth in foster care will experience increased stability in their placement and at school.2. Youth in foster care will demonstrate improved school attendance.3. Youth in foster care will achieve school promotion and grade advancement.4. Youth in foster care with identified special needs will receive appropriate and supportive educational services.5. The public and private partners will create a collaborative structure that enhances the coordination and implementation of plans designed to achieve education success for youth in foster care.
Data/Evaluation (continued)
Critical but often elusive Persevere Document small successes You can do it!
Looking Ahead….
Staged Expansion All Cincinnati Public Schools (district-wide) Youth in custody AND under agency supervision Inclusion of Dually Involved Youth
Crisis Intervention Services and Consultation
Local Training and On-Site TA regarding Fostering Connections
Enhanced data collection and exchange Program Evaluation
Supported by HHS funding
Nine tenths of education is encouragement.
Anatole France, writer
He who opens a school door, closes a prison.
Victor Hugo, poet
Contact InformationElaine E. FinkManaging Attorney, Children’s AdvocacyLegal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio, LLC215 E. 9th Street, Suite 500Cincinnati, Ohio [email protected]
Carla GuenthnerChief MagistrateHamilton County Juvenile Court800 BroadwayCincinnati, Ohio [email protected]
Questions and Comments?